Discussions about the Jianmu project and the Penglai City project occurred not only in the coffee shops of Jin Ling University, but also in all corners of the world. When the Pan-Asian News announced this news, it immediately caused a huge response in the international community.
Even in the distant Mars colonies, words such as "Penglai City" or "Jianmu" could be heard in people's discussions.
New London.
In a bar with trendy decoration and full of cyberpunk style, a man with arms emitting a metallic luster closed the holographic screen in his hand, freed his right hand to grab the glass, took a sip of the green cocktail that exuded an ominous breath, and muttered while burping.
"Pan-Asian Cooperation plans to build a city on the Pacific Ocean? What are those Asians thinking? "
Sitting next to him, a man who also didn't look like a proper man interjected slowly.
"What are they thinking? Isn't it obvious? They intend to build the space elevator on the Pacific Ocean, build a city under the space elevator, and turn the Pacific Ocean into their back garden without anyone noticing. "
"Isn't Penglai City their back garden? Now the entire Earth-Moon system is their back garden, not just the Pacific Ocean. "
"That's true …"
"In any case, this is a violation of international conventions!" At this moment, a deafening roar suddenly came from the side. A drunk man with a red nose said rudely, "The territorial waters of the Pacific Ocean belong to all of mankind. How dare they do this!"
At this moment, the bartender standing behind the bar counter placed the shaken cocktail on the bar counter and gently pushed it in front of a customer.
He looked at the guests who were arguing until their faces were red with anger. He casually interjected with a sentence.
"Let them be. Anyway, the Pacific Ocean is thousands of miles away from London, and tens of millions of kilometers away from New London. Even if they drain the Pacific Ocean, it has nothing to do with us."
This was the truest thought in his heart, and it was also the thought of the vast majority of people in this bar.
In any case, this place was too far away from Earth.
Besides, even if they didn't want to, what could they do?
The Pan-Asian First Fleet was a starship battle group established with extraterrestrial civilizations as the imaginary enemy. So far, even the starships of other regional alliances combined could not compare to the total tonnage and combat effectiveness of this "invincible fleet".
As the rising star of the Space Age, there was no need to mention the North Sea Alliance. They had to rely on the strategy of turning a blind eye to air pirates and smuggling trade to divide the share of space trade in the hands of the Pan-Asian Cooperation. They didn't even have the ability to compare on the same level. Even their own spaceport, the Atlantis space station, was built by East Asia Heavy Industries.
In the face of such hegemony, what room did they have to resist?
Regardless of whether they were really doing this for the sake of humanity or for their own selfish desires, this matter was not something they could control with their own will …
Not only were the idlers in a small bar in New London, but the headquarters of the North American Alliance on Earth were also worried about "the problem that they couldn't do anything about".
Just as the Pan-Asian Cooperation took the initiative in public opinion to build momentum for the space elevator plan, its senior executives also sent invitations to other regional alliances and regimes on Earth through diplomatic channels.
As for the content of the meeting —
It was naturally related to the space elevator and the city on the Pacific Ocean.
To be honest, when he heard that the Pan-Asian Cooperation had made such a decision, Chairman Doran Camil's face was full of surprise. Having been the chairman of the North America Alliance for about six years, he was quite familiar with dealing with the Pan-Asian Cooperation.
Under normal circumstances, those Pan-Asians were quite gentle in their diplomatic stance. No matter what happened, they would communicate with other regional alliances in a consultative manner.
But this time, it was a little different from usual.
It wasn't until the chairman announced the plan to build a space elevator at the celebration of the ignition day that they learned that the Asians planned to insert a pipe into the atmosphere, and the name of this pipe was "Jianmu".
Carefully recalling the various events that happened during his tenure, Chairman Doran Camil couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
When did all of this start?
And …
Jianmu, what does it mean?
"Jianmu project …" Putting down the invitation letter about the diplomatic meeting in his hand, Chairman Camil looked at his chief of staff, frowned, and asked, "What is Jianmu?"
The chief of staff hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"It is said to be a staircase connecting heaven and earth in ancient mythology in China."
"Similar to the Tower of Babel?"
"Almost … but that thing is not a tower, but a holy tree worshiped by our ancestors —"
"It doesn't matter at all." The secretary-general standing next to him coughed heavily, interrupting the insignificant conversation between the two. He glanced at the chairman sitting behind the desk and said in a serious tone, "Mr. Chairman, what we need to discuss now is how to treat this invitation to a diplomatic meeting."
According to the current international law, the Pan-Asian Cooperation's plan to carry out large-scale construction in the Pacific Ocean was legally untenable. Logically, there was no need for them to accept such a diplomatic meeting to negotiate for something they could not accept at all.
On the other hand, if they accepted such an invitation, it would be equivalent to sending a message.
That was, there was room for negotiation.
"How to treat it? The Pacific Ocean is a high sea. Whether it is a country or a regional alliance, if they are allowed to carry out large-scale construction there today, they will dare to include that area into the exclusive economic zone tomorrow, and they will dare to claim sovereignty there the day after tomorrow … But the question is, is there a better choice? "
His index finger tapped lightly on the desk. Chairman Camil looked at the silent secretary-general, sighed, and continued.
"In fact, from the beginning, we had no choice."
The secretary-general looked at him solemnly and continued, "Not necessarily.
If we can unite the South American Alliance, the North Sea Alliance, and the Ibero-French Alliance diplomatically — "
"Then our starships added up will only be a fraction of the Pan-Asian First Fleet." Interrupting the secretary-general's words, Chairman Camil smiled bitterly and continued, "Do you really think that if we make it clear that they will give up this plan?"
The office fell into silence.
Chairman Camil sighed softly. He swiped the invitation letter for the diplomatic meeting in the holographic screen into the memo, then clicked the close button and leaned back in the office chair.
To be honest, compared with the actions of the Pan-Asian Cooperation in the Pacific Ocean, what he was most worried about was not the impact of the space elevator on the international pattern, strategic balance, or ecological environment.
After all, the hegemony of the Pan-Asian Cooperation had been established as early as the 1950s of the last century, and it had been operating steadily for more than half a century. One more space elevator would not fundamentally change anything.
What really worried him was another thing.
Although the possibility of a military conflict breaking out in the 22nd century was slim, this was all based on the diplomatic principles of "pacifism and non-interference" of the Pan-Asian Cooperation. Even with the largest starship battle group, they had never considered putting it into the invasion of other regional alliances.
However, since Li Guangya became the chairman, some dreadful things seemed to have been released subtly.
Camil couldn't clearly describe what it was, but he knew one thing.
Once those people chose to cross the line, the world would tremble.
There was no need to doubt this point …
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